Automatic fire-kindler.



v TPATBNTED MAY 12, 19-03. M. G. HOFFMAN & J. H. HIBB.

.AUTOMATIG FIRE KINDLBR.

nruoumn 11,215 00m. 17, 1902.

.H0 MODEL.

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Tu: new!!! men; co.. PNOTO-LITNO, wAsmuoTON o c NITE YATES Patented May 12, 1903.

MARTIN G. HOFFMAN, OF MERRILL, AND JOHN H. I-IIEB, OF GRAND RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC FIRE -KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 728,108, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed October 1'7, 1902. Serial No. 127696- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it floaty concern.-

Be it known that we, MARTIN G. HOFFMAN,

residing at the city of Merrill, in the county of Lincoln, and JOHN H. HIEB, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in the county Wood, State of Wisconsin, citizens of the United States, (whose joint post-office address is Merrill, Lincoln county,Wisconsin,) have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire Kindlers, of which the following is a specification.

Ourinvention has relation to improvements in fire-kindlers; and the-object is to provide an automatically-acting means for igniting a connection extending from a fuse-holder to the fuel in the fire-pot of a stove, range, or furnace. The fuse-holder is arranged in the path of a striking revoluble member which impinges or strikes a fulminate carried by the fuse, and from the fulminate the flame is communicated to the inflammable strand leading to the point where the fuel is to be ignited. The actuating means is a time mechanism of that character adapted to be set and arranged to be released and made active at a predetermined time. A clock is-the mechanism we employ to effect the purpose, and this may be utilized without alteration or change. In the illustrations we have shown the attachment as connected to a Parker clock and arranged in the path of the revoluble jointed striker for the alarm bell or gong.

In a concurrent application we have produced a fire-kindler mechanism wherein the fulminate of theinflammable strand is exploded by a rubbing friction action of a rotary member and a stationary member, between which the fulminated portion of the inflammable strandis disposed. In the present invention we deposit the fulminated portion of the strand in a suitable holding medium and in the path of the revoluble jointed hammer of the alarm of the clock.

We have fully and clearly illustrated our improvements in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein- Figure 1 is a View in rear elevation of a metal-case clock, showing the alarm bell or gong and the revoluble jointed striker and our kindling device connected thereto. Fig.

2 is a detail fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the improvements in plain view. Fig. 3 is a detail front view in elevation of the fuse-holder. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view of the fuse-holder, somewhat enlarged, showing the inflammable strand arranged therein.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a metal clock-case of a Well-known construction or style and provided with a revoluble jointed tappet-arm 1, actuated by the alarm mechanism to strike the gong when the alarm mechanism; is released. To a, binding-post fixed-in the back plate of the clock or clamped to the projecting end of one of the bindingrods of the clock-case, as indicated at 2, is detachably secured the fuse-holding plate 3. This plate consists of a suitable plate 4, having an open end slot 5, adapted to straddle the projecting end of the support 2 and be held thereon by a clamping-nut, as shown in the drawings. The fuse-holder at one end is turned at right angles to the body 4, as at 6, and has its lower edge provided with two upturned pieces or tongues 7 8, arranged with a space 9 between 'them, so that when the fuse is disposed inthe holder behind the pieces or tongues 7 8 it will be exposed at the space between the tongues and in position to be struck by the end of the revolublejointed arm 1 and the fulminate exploded by the blow. The tongues 78 may be directed inward toward the face ofthe' part 6, so as to slightly pinch the strand and hold itin position, and to prevent the strand from accidental removal from the holder a flange 9 is formed on the end of the [part 6, the lower end or edge of the flange stopping short of the bottom of the tongues and reaching over the strand-space, substantially as shown in the drawings.

1O designates the kindling-strand, made'of any suitable material, saturated or coated with a free-burning substance and provided with a f ulminate on that part whichis posited in the holder, as indicated at 11. The fuse--v holder, with the fuse'arranged therein,"is

placed in position relatively to the revoluble striking-arm, so as to bring the fulminated part'in the path of the arm when revolved.

To utilize the device, the holder is set and ICC secured in position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The alarm mechanism is then set to be released at a determined time, and the fuse is arranged in the holder, as shown,with the fulminated part exposed in the space between the tongues. The clock is then placed in a convenient location and the free end of the inflammable strand connected to the kin- (lling material in the fire-pot, and the device will then at the time set accomplish the purpose of its creation.

YVe do not desire to be limited to the precise constructions and elements shown and described, because other combinations may be substituted which come within the principles of the invention and may be used without departing from the scope thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what. we claim is- In a tire-kindling device, a time mechanism, a revoluble jointed arm operated by the ti me mechanism, and a fuse-holder consisting of a plate formed with upturned tongues arranged with a space between them in the path of the revoluble arm, and an end flange to set over a fuse with its lower end.

In testimony whereof we aflix our respective signatures in the presence of two witnesses for each signature as below indicated.

MARTIN G. HOFFMAN. JOHN H. HIEB. Vitnesses to signature of Martin G. Hoffman:

N. S. CURTIS, A. I-I.' REID. \Vitnesses to signature of John H. Hieb:

W. J. CONWAY, GEO. II. METCALFE. 

